Valmiki Ramayana 1.51.2 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 2

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रस्य धीमत:।हृष्टरोमा महातेजाश्शतानन्दो महातपा:।।1.51.1।।गौतमस्य सुतो ज्येष्ठस्तपसा द्योतितप्रभ:।रामसन्दर्शनादेव परं विस्मयमागत:।।1.51.2।।

Transliteration

gautamasya suto jyeṣṭhas tapasā dyotita-prabhaḥ |

rāma-sandarśanād eva paraṃ vismayam āgataḥ ||

Translation

Śatānanda—putera sulung Gautama, bersinar oleh cahaya yang lahir daripada tapa—hanya dengan memandang Rāma sahaja telah diliputi kehairanan yang mendalam.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतानन्दः इति

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• निषण्णौ: seated
• निषण्णौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘seated’ (तौ इति विशेषणम्)

• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: having seen
• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्रेक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having looked at/seen’

• सुख-आसीनौ: comfortably seated
• सुख-आसीनौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + आसीन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, धातु: आस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; अव्ययीभावः (सुखेन आसीनौ)

• नृप-आत्मजौ: the two princes (king’s sons)
• नृप-आत्मजौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नृपस्य आत्मजौ)

• शतानन्दः: Śatānanda
• शतानन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतानन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुनि-श्रेष्ठम्: best of sages
• मुनि-श्रेष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारयार्थः (मुनीनां श्रेष्ठम्)

• विश्वामित्रम्: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal particle)

• आम: indeed/then
• आम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle, assent/emphasis; often with ब्रू)

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Context

Satananda the eldest son of Gautama, a great sage who looked brilliant with the power of austerities was thrilled to hear the words of Viswamitra the intellectual and experienced great astonishment on beholding Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Śatānanda
• Rāma

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse suggests that dharma has a recognizable ‘radiance’: the sight of a dharmic person (Rāma) naturally evokes reverence and awe in those refined by tapas and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing and interacting in Mithilā’s setting, the text describes Śatānanda’s inner response—his astonishment upon seeing Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s inherent nobility (dharma-svarūpa) and Śatānanda’s spiritual sensitivity developed through austerity.